Most people think “fun” when they think “summer,” but that doesn’t mean the season can’t bring its share of drama.
From first heartbreaks to tension under a hot sun, these movies all feature excellent performances with serious emotional highs and lows.
Watch With Us recommends these four movies, starring actors like Timothée Chalamet, Steven Yeun and Mandy Moore.
You can stream these movies on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max and Paramount+.
‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ (2022)
In the sun-drenched marshes of North Carolina lives the mysterious “marsh girl,” Kya Clark (Daisy Edgar-Jones), a young woman labeled an outcast by the nearby town after her family abandons her. Anti-social but brilliantly in touch with nature and an expert in the natural sciences, Kya keeps to herself — until she is accused of murdering local hero Chase Andrews (Harris Dickinson).
This atmospheric movie, based on the bestselling novel by Delia Owens and produced by Reese Witherspoon, is an engaging and romantic story that emphasizes Kya’s resilience and determination. Taylor John Smith also appears as Tate Walker, one of Kya’s few friends in their small town, and their relationship forms a moving through-line throughout the movie. With its lush greenery and oppressive sense of warmth, Where the Crawdads Sing is a perfect summer drama watch.
Watch Where the Crawdads Sing on HBO Max.
‘Call Me by Your Name’ (2017)
Directed by Luca Guadagnino (Challengers) and based on the novel by André Aciman, Call Me by Your Name is set in the summer of 1983 in northern Italy. It’s a summer love story that’s equal parts melancholy and hopeful, following the tender affair between 17-year-old Elio Perlman (Timothée Chalamet) and Oliver (Armie Hammer), a 24-year-old graduate student who is staying with Elio’s family to help Elio’s father with research.
It’s hard to imagine a more romantic backdrop than that of the Italian coast, and the stunning cinematography amplifies that beauty. As Elio, Chalamet portrays a complex tangle of emotions that anyone will recognize from their first love — passion, fear, joy and pain. It’s an emotionally charged love story that will transport you completely.
Watch Call Me by Your Name on Paramount+.
‘A Walk to Remember’ (2002)
A Nicholas Sparks classic starring Mandy Moore, A Walk to Remember centers on Landon Carter (Shane West), a popular but reckless high school student who is forced to participate in community service after a prank goes wrong. It’s through this community service that he meets Jamie Sullivan (Moore), the reserved and devout daughter of the local Baptist minister. The unlikely pair, from vastly different social circles, slowly grows closer as Landon discovers Jamie’s warmth and inner beauty. Their growing romance is tested by preconceived notions and personal challenges when Jamie reveals she is suffering from leukemia.
Though their love story lasts longer than just one summer, the time they spend together is infused with warmth and youthful passion, along with a heavy dose of ’90s nostalgia, making it a great summer watch that may bring a tear to your eye.
Watch A Walk to Remember on Amazon Prime Video.
‘Minari’ (2020)
This critically acclaimed movie takes place in the summer and follows a Korean American family that moves to rural Arkansas to pursue the American dream by starting a farm. Steven Yeun stars as Jacob, the patriarch of the family whose stubbornness pushes him to work under a hot Arkansas sun — sometimes refusing help and putting his family second in his determination to succeed on his own.
The story is mostly told from the point of view of Jacob’s young son, David (Alan S. Kim), who observes his parents and sister with quiet stoicism until his unconventional grandmother Soon-ja (Youn Yuh-jung, who won an Oscar for her performance) brings him out of his shell. Minari‘s poignant storytelling, emotional depth and outstanding performances make it a heart-wrenching portrayal of the immigrant experience, capturing both the triumphs and difficulties faced by families in search of a better life. It’s a summer drama that offers hope for renewal and growth.
Rent Minari on Amazon Prime Video.
